Museums in Edinburgh

The Museum of Edinburgh is a small, delightful local history museum housed in a cluster of 16th-century townhouses on the Royal Mile. It tells the story of Edinburgh from prehistory to the present day.

The National Museum of Scotland is a striking blend of a restored Victorian grand hall and a bold modern extension, housing collections that span Scottish history, world cultures, science, technology, and the natural world — all under one roof and entirely free.

The Scottish National Gallery is a neoclassical temple of art on the Mound, housing Scotland's finest collection of paintings from the Renaissance to Post-Impressionism. Admission is free and the collection is world-class.

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is a stunning Gothic Revival building on Queen Street, housing a collection of portraits telling the visual story of Scotland through faces and figures from Mary Queen of Scots to the present day.

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art occupies two elegant neoclassical buildings surrounded by sculpture-filled grounds in the leafy Dean Village area, west of the city centre.

Surgeons' Hall Museums are a fascinating trio of medical museums within the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, one of the oldest surgical institutions in the world. The collections offer a unique window into the history of surgery and anatomy.

The Writers' Museum is a charming, intimate museum tucked away in Lady Stair's Close, just off the Royal Mile. It celebrates the lives and works of Scotland's three greatest literary figures: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Dynamic Earth is an interactive science museum near the Scottish Parliament, taking visitors on a journey through the story of planet Earth from the Big Bang to the present day, using immersive exhibits and special effects.

The National War Museum sits within Edinburgh Castle's fortification walls, exploring over 400 years of Scottish military history through weapons, uniforms, medals, and personal stories.